Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Lapwing
Vanellus tectus
Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 100 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Vanellus
- Species tectus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 100 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-headed Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF inland Sahel to e Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 100 g, with a wing length of about 18.5 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Lapwing?
The Black-headed Lapwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 100 g.
Where does the Black-headed Lapwing live?
The Black-headed Lapwing is found across Africa with a range covering AF inland Sahel to e Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-headed Lapwing belong to?
The Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black-headed Lapwing eat?
The Black-headed Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Lapwing migrate?
The Black-headed Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Lapwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Lapwing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Lapwing's range?
The Black-headed Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 5.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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